Does retinal go before or after moisturizer?

How to layer retinal at night

For The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion:

1. 1Cleanse your face gently, then let your skin dry before applying retinal.
2. 2Apply a pea sized amount to your face and neck in the evening. Avoid the eye contour and contact with your eyes, and apply only to unbroken skin.
3. 3Apply moisturizer afterwards.
4. 4Start once a week. Gradually increase to twice a week, a few days apart, as your skin tolerates it.
5. 5Use sun protection during the day. Do not combine this product with other retinoid products.

Those amounts and application days belong to this particular product, not every retinal formula. Patch test before using it. If you already use a prescription retinoid, follow your prescribed routine rather than adding this retinal alongside it.1

Should skin be dry or damp?

For The Ordinary's retinal, use dry skin. Moisturizer alone is generally best applied while skin is still damp after washing or showering, because it traps water and reduces evaporation. These instructions serve different purposes: on a retinal evening, follow the retinal's dry skin direction, then moisturize. On occasions when you are only moisturizing, apply moisturizer promptly after washing.12

Moisturizer adds moisture and helps prevent water leaving the skin, so its supporting role is actual work rather than a ceremonial final appearance. Retinoids can cause dryness, peeling and redness; keeping moisturizer in the routine addresses dryness rather than replacing the retinal step.23

Which moisturizer should you use?

Moisturizers come as gels, lotions, creams and ointments, because even the supporting product gets a wardrobe department. Choose the texture for your skin's dryness, not simply because you have added retinal.2

• For oily skin, a gel is a lighter option.
• For normal skin with mild seasonal dryness, a lotion can be sufficient.
• For dry skin, a cream or ointment retains more moisture than a lotion.
• For combination skin, focus moisturizer on dry areas rather than automatically using the same amount everywhere.

Choose a fragrance free moisturizer, especially if your skin is dry or sensitive. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are useful moisturizing ingredients. If you tend to break out, look for a moisturizer labeled noncomedogenic, meaning it is designed not to clog pores. For acne with dryness, a fragrance free, water based moisturizer is an option.245

What if retinal irritates your skin?

If The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion causes irritation, rinse it off, stop using it and consult a physician. Do not try to exfoliate away dry, peeling skin: exfoliation can strip away more moisture. If dryness does not improve, or becomes painful, cracked, bleeding or persistently stinging, make an appointment with a dermatologist.12

Retinaldehyde is a cosmetic retinoid, part of the vitamin A family. General retinoid precautions matter: these products can worsen eczema through drying and can increase sun sensitivity. Use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher during the day, alongside shade and protective clothing. If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, discuss retinal with your clinician before using it, because pregnancy restrictions apply to some topical retinoids.23